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salt on mars: Scientists using a Mars-orbiting camera, designed at Arizona State University's Mars Space Flight Facility, have discovered the first evidence for deposits of salt in numerous places on the planet Mars. These deposits, they say, show where water was once abundant. A team of scientists led by Mikki Osterloo of the University of Hawaii found about 200 places in the Martian southern hemisphere that show spectral characteristics consistent with that of chloride minerals.

Scientists recently presented fresh evidence of the possibility of water having once flowed on Mars. A nasa spacecraft currently orbiting Mars has captured photographs that depict equatorial ridges on Mars that could have been formed by running water.

Scientists using data from the High Resolution Stereo Camera experiment onboard European Satellite Agency's Mars Express spacecraft have produced the first 'hiker's maps' of Mars.
Giving detailed height contours and names of geological features in the Iani Chaos region in the planet, the maps could become a standard reference for future Martian research.
The Iani Chaos region was chosen because of its major topographical interest. It is covered in individual blocks and hills that form a chaotic pattern across the landscape.

www.marstoday.com
Almost every one is curious about the unsolved mysteries of the Red Planet--Mars. The secret connection between Earth and the
Red lanet and the existence of life on this planet have perplexed us for long. www.marstoday.com is a site which provides news about
the latest scientific discoveries from the Red Planet. The website compiles news regarding the planet Mars on daily basis as well as
series of status reports, press releases and photographs.

"The match was declared closed at the loss of one planet." This could well have been the closing statement of anyone doing a running commentary on the proceedings of the 26th General Assembly of the International Astronomical Union (iau). The meeting held at the Czech capital, Prague between August 14 and 25, 2006, saw members voting for a new definition of planets. According to this definition, Pluto will no longer be called a planet: it will be called a dwarf planet instead.

freshness sensor: Grocers, florists and even pharmacists may soon have a better way to monitor the quality of products they get from suppliers: a sensor that will tell when a product spoils.
A team of University of Florida (in the US) engineering students has designed and built a prototype of the sensor, which can also record and wirelessly transmit information to retailers about when and where glitches occur as a product is being shipped. The sensor will make the perishable goods supply chain both safer and more efficient.

On March 13, 1930, the Lowell Observatory in Arizona, usa, announced the discovery of the ninth planet of the Solar system, bringing an end to an exactly 150-year old search. On March 13, 1781, the German-born English astronomer William Herschel (1738-1822), more or less accidentally discovered Uranus using the biggest telescope then available. It was a momentous discovery: no one in recorded history had till then ever discovered a planet.

evidence suggests that Mars once had water on its surface, a denser atmosphere and a mild climate -- conditions favourable for life. But Viking Landers (i and ii) could not find any organic molecules when they studied Mars' soil in the 1970s. Now, researchers led by Fabien Stalport of Universit Paris XII in France contend that analysis of minerals would be a better approach.

garlic safety: Researchers from UK's Liverpool John Moores University claim that a garlic supplement may reduce the risk of heart attacks in patients with coronary problems.
Led by Khalid Rahman and Gordon Lowe, the scientists found aged garlic extract decreases the chances of formation of blood clots. The extract targets blood platelets that cause clotting. In healthy people, platelets move freely. But in older patients who typically experience cardiovascular disease, platelets are less mobile and can 'stick together' causing a clot.